Process for pollution control

ABSTRACT

Improved processes and improved compositions reduce the environmental damage caused by large-scale combustion, especially in the field of NO x  reduction by selective noncatalytic reduction (SNCR) in the gas phase. In one aspect, the process improves the reliability of known means, compositions and methods for reducing the concentration of pollutants in a gas stream by: preparing an aqueous solution comprising a pollutant-reducing agent and a surface active agent in ratio of surface active agent to pollutant-reducing agent of greater than 1:4000, the amount and composition of surface active agent being effective to reduce average droplet size by at least 10%, and introducing the solution into the gas stream. Preferred surface active agents have HLB values of from about 8 to about 20, and are preferably anionic or nonionic agents such as C 11  -C 15  secondary alcohol ethoxylates, C 12  -C 15  linear primary alcohol ethoxylates, alkylated diphenyl oxide disulfonates and nonyl phenol ethoxylated ethanol.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to reducing the environmental damage caused by large-scale combustion, and provides both improved processes and improved compositions for achieving this, especially in the field of NO_(x) reduction by selective noncatalytic reduction (SNCR) in the gas phase.

Carbonaceous materials, including the typical hydrocarbon fuels such as coal, oil and gas, as well as refuse, are burned in increasing amounts each year. At the high temperatures (e.g., 1000° to 1700° C.) normally encountered in large scale combustors, nitrogen oxides (NO_(x)) formation is greatly increased because the conditions favor formation of free radicals of oxygen and nitrogen and their chemical combination as nitrogen oxides.

In order to reduce the formation of NO_(x), both primary and secondary measures have been employed. Primary measures are those which modify combustion itself and may involve using an excess of air or fuel or a combination of both in staged combustion. However, such measures tend to produce undesirable levels of carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide. There is no known primary method which by itself enables reducing both NO_(x) and carbon monoxide to acceptable levels without serious economic drawbacks.

A number of economically-attractive secondary measures have been developed which enable combustion to take place under efficient conditions, with resultant NO_(x) generation, but then reduce the NO_(x) by conversion into other compounds which can either be emitted or eliminated from the flue gas. Of these, selective gas phase reactions--both catalytic (SCR) and non-catalytic (SNCR)--are advantageous because they permit reduction of NO_(x) while using relatively low levels of chemical reducing agents. The SNCR procedures are especially effective and economical. The catalytic processes are less desirable in many installations because they require extensive capital equipment, large spaces for installation and are subject to fouling.

However, the attainment of consistent, high reductions in NO_(x) with SNCR procedures is a matter of considerable engineering and chemistry. These reactions occur in the gas phase and typically involve NO_(x) levels of 20 to 1500 parts per million by volume (ppm_(v)) and either urea or ammonia at from one to three times the amount stoichiometrically required. The reactions require mating of the reactive materials in high dilution in the gas phase, and typically start with the NO_(x) -reducing agents in aqueous droplets.

The use of droplets is advantageous because the water provides a good vehicle for delivering the active agent through the conduits and into the intense heat of the combustion gases for delivery to the desired location for reaction. However, droplets which are too large can impact equipment. Such a deviation can result in chemical impacting equipment surfaces--such as heat exchangers--and can cause buildup of deposits or even corrosion.

For best results, the water must be evaporated from the droplets and the active agent converted to the gas phase to achieve contact with the NO_(x) molecules in the temperature range effective for reaction, e.g., from 900° to 1050° C. In many cases there exists only a very small space between components where injection and complete evaporation are essential. The engineer must deal with high turbulence, high gas velocities, and high temperature gradients both parallel with and transverse to the direction of bulk gas flow. Moreover, all of these parameters are subject to change with changes in combustion rate (e.g., load). This complex set of conditions greatly frustrates the need to introduce the active agents uniformly, but with rapid release in confined spaces.

Effective and economical reaction in the gas phase depends on good droplet size distribution to achieve good mixing of reducing agents with the effluent gases. Incomplete or non-uniform mixing can cause a number of adverse results including poor chemical utilization, the release of ammonia into the atmosphere, and damage to equipment through corrosion or the formation of deposits on heat exchange and other surfaces by direct chemical impingement and precipitate formation. Moreover, if the fuels contain significant amounts of sulfur, ammonia can react with the sulfur and form solid ammonium sulfate and/or bisulfite which deposit on heat exchange surfaces and can quickly reduce heat transfer efficiency.

There remains a need for improvement in controlling chemical injection by speeding up the kinetics responsible for physically releasing active chemicals into flue gases in confined spaces.

BACKGROUND ART

Prominent among the selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) processes are those disclosed for example by Lyon in U.S. Pat. No. 3,900,554 and by Arand et al in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,208,386 and 4,325,924. Briefly, these patents disclose that ammonia (Lyon) and urea (Arand et al) can be injected into hot combustion gases to selectively react with NO_(x) and reduce it to diatomic nitrogen and water.

The SNCR process described by Lyon in U.S. Pat. No. 3,900,554 reduces the concentration of nitrogen monoxide (NO) in combustion gases. Lyon discloses injecting ammonia or certain ammonia precursors or their aqueous solutions into an oxygen-rich waste gas for selective reaction with the nitrogen monoxide at a temperature in the range of from 870° to 1100° C. In this process, it is important that the temperature of the combustion effluent lie within a narrow "temperature window" during the contact with the gaseous ammonia. The limiting values of the window can be reduced by the addition of certain substances. Distribution of the ammonia within the combustion effluent is critical to achieving maximum utilization of the ammonia and reduction of NO within the defined temperature window. Ineffective utilization will increase costs and cause other problems associated with ammonia discharge.

Arand et al disclose in U.S. Pat. No. 4,208,386 that urea can be added alone or in solution to oxygen-rich effluents in a temperature range from 700° to 1100° C. Any urea which fails to react with NO_(x) within the temperature window is, nonetheless chemically transformed by heat and some, during cooling, results in ammonia formation. Again, here, as with the Lyon process, distribution is critical to selective reduction and, therefore, to economic operation and avoidance of the problems associated with ammonia discharge and fouling.

Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,325,924, Arand et al describe an SNCR process utilizing urea in fuel-rich combustion effluents. Effluents of this type can be generated by staged combustion, which can lead to the formation of high levels of carbonaceous pollutants. Again, distribution is critical and, if ineffective, can have adverse economic as well as environmental impact.

A number of other disclosures in the field of SNCR suggest improvements over the aforementioned processes. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,249, Bowers discloses that if droplet size is increased and urea concentration is decreased, good results can be achieved in oxygen-rich effluents at higher temperatures than disclosed by Arand et al. Distribution, however, remains critical here, and there is a need to better control droplet size.

In a further modification, Bowers discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,092 that an additional material, an oxygen-containing hydrocarbon, can be injected together with an aqueous urea solution to reduce residual ammonia concentration in the effluent. Despite the added material, distribution and droplet size distribution remain important.

In an effort to achieve better distribution by injection, DeVita describes an injector in U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,036 which shows good distribution of injected fluids while the danger of clogging is minimized. This specification discloses the need for good distribution of chemicals and enables improving it where boiler geometry permits. Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,834, Burton describes an injector which, while effective in many combustor configurations, could benefit from the provision of an additive for the aqueous solutions employed which could improve droplet size distribution. And, in WO 91/17814, Chawla et al describe a nozzle which enables injection of a two-phase mixture of air and aqueous NO_(x) -reducing composition into an effluent at sonic velocity to achieve an improved distribution of particle sizes, but could also benefit from such an additive.

There remains a present need for a process to effectively minimize combustion-generated pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides, while simultaneously minimizing secondary pollutants, such as carbon monoxide and ammonia, in the final effluent by achieving more uniform distribution of pollutant reducing agents at the effective temperature ranges for the chemicals concerned, especially in effluent passages having geometries and load-determined temperature profile characteristics which adversely impact distribution.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to improve the introduction and utilization of pollutant-reducing chemicals in hot combustion effluents.

It is another object of the invention to improve the reliability of SNCR NO_(x) -reducing installations which depend on the introduction of aqueous solutions of NO_(x) -reducing agents into a high temperature environment.

Another object is to mitigate utilization and distribution problems normally associated with SNCR processes.

These and other objects are achieved by the present invention which provides improved processes and compositions.

In one broad aspect, the invention provides a process for improving the reliability of known means, compositions and methods for reducing the concentration of pollutants in a gas stream, especially within a confined space, by: preparing an aqueous solution comprising a pollutant-reducing agent and a surface active agent and in ratio of surface active agent to pollutant-reducing agent of greater than 1:4000, the composition and amount of surface active agent being effective to reduce average droplet size by at least 10%, and introducing the solution into the gas stream.

In one preferred form of the invention, the solution comprising the pollutant-reducing agent and the water-dispersible polymer is mixed with air and injected as a dispersion of liquid droplets in a gas stream at or near the sonic velocity of the mixture, into a passage containing a combustion effluent at a temperature effective for reducing a pollutant concentration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will be better understood and its advantages will become more apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a graph showing the influence of a surface active agent on the size of droplets of an aqueous urea solution;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of one typical process scheme for reducing NO_(x) ; and

FIG. 3 is a view showing an array of spray nozzles within a confined space in an effluent passage; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the detail of an exemplary nozzle for use in the invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Effluents in need of treatment are produced by a variety of sources including large industrial and utility boilers, circulating fluidized bed boilers, and gas turbines. It will be understood, though, that although written in terms of the reduction of nitrogen oxides in the effluent from the combustion of a carbonaceous fuel, the invention is applicable in any high temperature environment having nitrogen or sulfur oxides, or other pollutant that can be treated by selective gas-phase reaction. Temperatures will typically be greater than about 800° C. and can be as high as about 1100° C., even 1200° C. and higher.

As set forth in the references identified above, the known processes involve preparing a treatment composition (typically as an aqueous solution), transporting the composition to a gas stream (e.g., a combustion effluent) through conduits effective for this purpose, and introducing the composition into the gas stream at a concentration and at a rate effective to reduce pollutant concentration under the conditions prevailing in the gas stream.

In most processes of this type, the treatment composition is introduced into the effluent by an injector which generally comprises a conduit, sometimes fitted at the tip with a nozzle, extending into an effluent gas stream. In some cases a portion of effluent or other gas is employed to help atomize and disperse the treatment composition. The spray or injection pattern is defined with precision, often with the aid of computer to assure good distribution and reaction. The present invention helps improve operation by providing a more predictably-defined pattern.

Apparatus of varying degrees of sophistication are known for introducing NO_(x) -reducing compositions into a high temperature environment. Some comprise coaxial, multi-tubular structures, such as those disclosed by Burton in U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,834, by DeVita in U.S. Pat. No. 4,985,218, and by Chawla et al in WO 91/17814, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

To maximize NO_(x) reduction, the art has also developed systems which introduce chemicals in stages (U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,024 to Epperly et al), and with variation in location of injection and chemical formulation as is necessary to meet the temperature and compositional variations in the gas stream being treated (U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,289 to Epperly et al).

These processes are all improved by incorporating in the solution a surface active agent in a ratio of surface active agent to pollutant-reducing agent of greater than 1:4000, the composition and amount of surface active agent being effective to reduce average droplet size by at least 10% and, preferably, provide a narrow distribution, of droplet sizes. The effect of a surface active agent, is described below in Example 1 and is illustrated in FIG. 1.

For the purposes of this description, all temperatures herein are measured using a suction pyrometer employing a k-type thermocouple. Droplet sizes are determined with a Malvern 2600 instrument, utilizing a Fraunhofer diffraction, laser-based system. And, unless otherwise indicated, all parts and percentages are based on the weight of the composition at the particular point of reference.

FIG. 2 shows a representative multistage treatment in a large combustor. This figure shows the final mixing and introduction of three individual active components. These are shown as being provided from individual sources A, B and C and stored in tanks 20, 30 and 40, which are associated with metering pumps 22, 32 and 42 as well as suitable conduits, and valves to enable mixing in the manner called for by a controller (not shown) or manual operation. The temperature of effluent at the point of injection, the concentration of active component in the solution, and the size of the droplets in the dispersion, are selected to achieve reduction in nitrogen oxides or other pollutant levels in the effluent.

The arrangment of FIG. 2 does not show the heat exchange tubes or other structures which cause difficulties during injection, but one exemplary situation showing a confined space and a suitable array of spaced nozzles on a lance positioned between two banks of heat exchange tubes is shown in FIG. 3. These tubes can be rendered less efficient or damaged by impingement of chemical additives.

One exemplary injection nozzle for use according to the invention is described in the above-identified disclosure of Chawla et al and is capable of supplying a pollutant-reducing agent comprised of one or more active components in a two-phase mixture of liquid and gaseous components. A nozzle of this type is shown in FIG. 4 and will be described in greater detail below. The liquid component of a two-phase mixture in the case of Chawla et al, Burton or DeVita injectors, or a single-phase, liquid component in the case of other nozzles not requiring a gas, typically comprises a solution having at least one pollutant-reducing agent effective in reducing NO_(x) and/or SO_(x) under the conditions of injection, may contain enhancers to best match the pollutant-reducing agent to the effective temperature window, and also usually includes various additives to protect the system against blockage.

The active pollutant-reducing agent, e.g. NO_(x) -reducing agent, is desirably incorporated in the liquid phase. In one embodiment, a NO_(x) -reducing agent is introduced as an aqueous treatment solution, such as urea or other NH-containing composition in water with one or more enhancers. It is possible, consistent with effectiveness, to employ either of the liquid or gaseous components as a multiphase mixture. For example, the liquid component can include suspended solids or an immiscible fluid material. The gaseous component can be similarly complex.

Various NH-containing compositions, in their pure and typical commercial forms, will generate effective gas-phase agents (e.g., the amidozine radical) when introduced in aqueous solution and subjected to elevated temperatures. Among the prominent NH-containing compositions are those selected from the group consisting of ammonia, ammonia precursors, urea, urea precursors, urea hydrolysis products, products of reaction of urea with itself or other compositions, related compositions, and mixtures of these. Among these compounds are ammonium carbonate, ammonium formate, ammonium citrate, ammonium acetate, ammonium oxalate, other ammonium salts (inorganic and organic) particularly of organic acids, ammonium hydroxide, various stable amines, guanidine, guanidine carbonate, biguanide, guanylurea sulfate, melamine, dicyanimide, calcium cyanamide, biuret, 1,1'azobisformamide, methylol urea, methylol urea-urea, dimethyl urea, hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA), and mixtures of these.

Among the hydrolysis products are ammonia, carbamates such as ammonium carbamate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate and other ammonia salts, various urea complexes and half ammonia salts. The exact form of some of these compounds is not known because the techniques employed to analyze them can affect their makeup. U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,631 to Hofmann et al and PCT application WO 92/02291 to von Harpe et al, are incorporated herein by reference.

Enhancers are additive materials which modify the effectiveness of a pollutant-reducing agent in terms of its effective temperature window, its utilization efficiency, or the like. Among the enhancers are the above materials when used in suitable combination, oxygenated hydrocarbons, and mixtures of these. Exemplary of the oxygenated hydrocarbons are ketones, aldehydes, alcohols including polyols, carboxylic acids, sugars, starch hydrolysates, hydrogenated starch hydrolysates, sugar-containing residues such as molasses, and mixtures of any of these. The entire disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,719,092, 4,844,878 and 4,877,591 are incorporated herein by reference.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the various treatment solutions are premixed to include the NO_(x) -reducing composition and enhancer most appropriate for the range of temperatures expected to be encountered at its respective introduction into zones 1, 2, or 3. The concentration of the compositions at the points of introduction can be finally adjusted as desired by water from the common source shown. The solution in the storage vessels will also preferably contain the surface active agents according to the invention. It is possible, of course to meter these in on a real-time basis in the concentration required. It is an advantage of the invention that these surface active agents are highly and rapidly dispersible in water throughout their full range of effective concentrations.

The surface active agents of the invention are those which have the ability to decrease the size of the droplets formed, and preferably, also narrow the distribution of droplet sizes formed upon injection. This enables the introduction of NO_(x) -reducing agent within a confined space by delivering more uniformly-small droplets with good spray penetration into the intended temperature zone. With the addition of the surface active agent, the resulting uniformly-sized droplets tend to more rapidly release the active, gaseous NO_(x) -reducing species from solution facilitating use within a more narrow temperature window. By proper monitoring of temperatures and control of droplet sizes, more of the NO_(x) -reducing agent is thereby available for its intended purpose and impingement on equipment surfaces can be eliminated while still controlling ammonia slip or conversion of the chemical to NO_(x) which can result from gas phase reactions outside the desired temperature range.

A wide variety of surface active agents are available which are effective to increase the kinetics of chemical release from droplets or improve droplet size distribution as described. Among the surface active agents suitable for use in the invention are those with relatively high hydrophile lipophile balance (HLB) values. Preferably, values of from about 8 to about 20. The surface active agents are water dispersible and include nonionic as well as ionic agents, both anionic and cationic. The anionic agents are preferred among the ionic species. In the preferred embodiments, the surface active agents are employed at ratios to the urea or other active NO_(x) -reducing agent of greater than 1:4000, preferably greater than 1:2500, and more preferably within the range of from 1:500 to 1:2000, e.g. about 1:1250.

Specific examples of suitable surfactants include the following:

    __________________________________________________________________________     TRADE NAME SOURCE        COMPOSITION            HLB IONIC/NONIONIC             __________________________________________________________________________     TERGITOL   UNION CARBIDE C.sub.11 -C.sub.15 SECONDARY ALCOHOL                                                                  15.4                                                                               NONIONIC                   15-S-15                  ETHOXYLATE                                            NEODOL 25-12                                                                              SHELL         C.sub.12 -C.sub.15 LINEAR PRIMARY                                                                     14.4                                                                               NONIONIC                                            ALCOHOL ETHOXYLATE                                    DOWFAX 3B2 DOW           ALKYLATED DIPHENYL OXIDE                                                                              17.8                                                                               ANIONIC                                             DISULFONATES                                          IGEPAL CO-730                                                                             RHONE-PLULENC NONYL PHENOL ETHOXYLATED                                                                              15.0                                                                               NONIONIC                                            ETHANOL                                               STEPANOL WAT                                                                              STEPAN        TRIETHANOLAMINE LAURYL 15.0                                                                               ANIONIC                                             SULFATE                                               EMCOL CC-36                                                                               WITCO         POLYPROPOXYLATED QUATERNARY                                                                           12.0                                                                               CATIONIC                                            NH.sub.4 CL                                           EMULPHOR   GAF/RHONE POULENC                                                                            POLYETHOXYLATED FATTY ACIDS                                                                               NONIONIC                   NINOL AA-62                                                                               STEPAN        LAURIC ACID ALKANOLAMIDE                                                                              8.3 NONIONIC                   __________________________________________________________________________

It is preferred that the pollution control composition be dispersed from a nozzle to provide droplets having an average droplet size within the range of from about 5 to about 100 microns Sauter mean diameter, and a relative span of droplet sizes of less than about 3. Most preferably, the median droplet size will be within the range of from about 10 to about 40 microns. The term "relative span" refers to the distribution of droplet sizes--the lower the value, the more nearly uniform the droplets are in terms of size. Specifically, ##EQU1## where D₀.1, D₀.5 and D₀.9 are volume diameters at 10%, 50% and 90% of the total liquid volume on a cumulative distribution curve.

Viewed from another perspective, the invention provides a greater degree of reliability to processes and apparatus which employ or are used in connection with aqueous solutions of the type described. This is achieved in the present case by providing the ability to better control placement of droplets of the proper size to achieve rapid chemical release and thereby achieve the objective of the pollutant-reducing agent, as opposed to the maintenance of clear transport and injection apparatus which was the objective of copending commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/770,857, entitled "Hardness Suppression In Urea Solutions" filed Oct. 3, 1991 by Dubin, et al.

The advantages of the present invention are additive to those of the above-referenced Dubin, et al application wherein it is disclosed that water hardness problems are exacerbated by the presence of urea and other NH-containing compositions. Accordingly, it is preferred to incorporate in the solutions of the invention a hardness-suppressing composition comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of polymers, phosphonates, chelants, phosphates and mixtures of any two or more of these, in an amount effective to suppress hardness. Thus, single members of this group can be employed where effective, or two or more members of a single group can be employed, as well as mixtures of members from different groups. Surfactants and stabilizers are also employed. The disclosure of the Dubin et al application is incorporated herein by reference.

Among the various hardness-suppressing compositions are: one or more polymers; combinations of one or more polymers and one or more phosphonates; combinations of one or more polymers, one or more phosphonates, and one or more chelants; combinations of one or more polymers, one or more phosphonates, one or more chelants and one or more phosphates; combinations of one or more polymers, one or more phosphonates, and one or more phosphates; combinations of one or more polymers and one or more chelants; combinations of one or more polymers and one or more phosphates; combinations of one or more polymers, one or more chelants and one or more phosphates; one or more phosphonates; combinations of one or more phosphonates and one or more chelants; combinations of one or more phosphonates and one or more phosphates; and combinations of one or more phosphonates, one or more chelants, and one or more phosphates. In addition, certain phosphates, alone or in combination, are effective and can be employed for scale conditioning and control as well as corrosion control. Similarly, chelants can, alone or in various combinations, have limited effectiveness.

The hardness-suppressing composition is preferably employed at a level effective to suppress hardness. Preferably, a polymer and a phosphonate are employed in combination at a weight ratio of within the range of from 1:25 to 25:1, but the preferred ratio is 4-6:1. Ratios outside these ranges can be employed so long as at least a minimum effective amount of each component in the combination is employed. When a concentrate is prepared for final dilution, it is desired to employ enough of the hardness-suppressing composition to be effective in the concentrate and all contemplated degrees of dilution.

Also preferably employed are pH modifiers such as monoethanolamine are employed in amounts effective to achieve long-term stability, especially when subjected to temperature extremes of from freezing to 120° F. One preferred hardness-suppressing formulation comprises 83% dionized water, 2.5% of a 60% solution of 1-hydroxy-ethylidene, 1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP), 10% of a 63% active solution of polyacrylic acid (PAA) (prepared using organic peroxide/isopropanol catalyst) (approximate MW 2000), 5% Igepal CO-730 nonionic surfactant (nonyl phenol ethoxylate), 1% aroma enhancer, 1.5% monoethanolamine, and 5% Dowfax 3B2 anionic sulfonate surfactant (alkylated diphenyl oxide disulfonates). The hardness-suppressing formulation is desirably employed at a level of from about 0.1 to 5% (e.g., 0.5%) in a solution containing about 50% urea.

The NO_(x) -reducing composition improved by the invention will typically be prepared and shipped as a concentrate which is diluted for use. Typically, these concentrates will contain 25 to 65% urea, 100 to 2000 ppm of a surface active agent of the invention, and 0.05 to 1.0% of an effective hardness-suppressing composition, more preferably from 40 to 55% urea, e.g., 50%, from 200 to 1000 ppm of the surface active agent, and from 0.1 to 0.75%, e.g., 0.5%, of the hardness-suppressing composition. This concentrate is diluted as required to achieve a urea concentration effective under the conditions. Typically, dilution to concentrations of from 5 to 25% urea are effective. Lower concentrations (e.g., 1 to 5%) may be desired. Typically, the pH of the aqueous solution is above 5, and generally is within the range of from 7 to 11, e.g., 8 to 10.

The concentration of the reducing agent injected into the effluent should be sufficient to obtain a reduction, and preferably ensure a minimization, of the nitrogen oxide concentration. In particular, the reducing agents are employed in total amounts sufficient to provide a molar ratio of reducing agent to baseline nitrogen oxide content (i.e., prior to treatment at that stage) of about 1:4 to about 5:1. The ratio is preferably within the range from 1:2 to 2:1. In most situations this amount will be distributed jointly by a number of nozzles from a number of points as is illustrated in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, three zones of injection are provided at progressive spacing distances above the combustion flame. The temperature decreases with successive levels moving upward in the figure. As combustion proceeds, effluent rises upwardly in this drawing through the passage 52 defined by the combustor walls. There may also be other obstructions, such as banks of cooling tubes and the like, within the combustor and thus defining the area within the passage where chemical introduction must take place.

FIG. 3 illustrates an injection device employed where the temperature window for effective NO_(x) treatment happens to fall between banks of heat exchange tubes in effluent passage 52. The limited space between these banks of tubes makes injection from or near the passage wall inefficient and permits locating an injection lance 67 no further than distance d from the nearest downstream bank. This distance is often as short as 1 to 3 meters. All fluid introduced by lance 67 must be fully vaporized by the time the effluent, often moving at 10 to 25 meters per second, travels the distance d. Thus, in the case where the effluent is moving at about 20 meters per second and the distance d is 1 meter, the liquid must evaporate in 50 milliseconds or less. In fact, all droplets must have been fully evaporated and their gaseous form fully mixed before the effluent is cooled below the effective temperature window in the area of the heat exchange tubes. Thus, there are many instances where complete evaporation of all droplets must take place in under 1 second and frequently less than 100 milliseconds, e.g. on the order of 10 to 250 milliseconds. The urea-NO_(x) reaction presumably takes place in the gas phase after the droplet is evaporated. Additional residence time is required for urea to reduce NO_(x) to N₂, H₂ O and CO₂. Not only do the droplets need to be evaporated, time is needed after evaporation for the urea to react with the NO_(x) --a difficult task in a space-limited environment. This is enabled by the present invention which enhances dispersion of the liquid as fine droplets of uniform size.

Referring again to FIG. 3, lance 167 carries a plurality of spaced nozzles 160, at least some of which are capable of injecting a two-phase pollutant-reducing mixture, comprising liquid and gaseous components, into the effluent at sonic velocity. A plurality of lances 167 will typically be employed. The lances are preferably spaced one from the other in a plane spaced a distance d from the next bank of heat exchange tubes (or other obstruction) downstream of the lances. The spacing between the nozzles 160 on an individual lance 167 as well as between lances is desirably kept as uniform as is consistent with effectiveness which will vary with velocity and temperature profiles within the effluent passage. Typically, the inter- as well as intra-lance nozzles will be spaced from about 0.1 to about 2 meters apart, more narrowly from about 0.3 to about 1.5 meters, and in an exemplary design at from 0.4 to 0.6 meters.

The individual lances 167 are fed with a liquid component through conduit 161 and a gaseous component via concentric outer conduit 163. In many circumstances, cooling fluid is fed and returned via lines 168 through a cooling jacket (not shown) which surrounds conduit 163.

It is an advantage of the present invention that liquid droplets comprising NO_(x) -reducing agents can be injected at well-controlled particle size distributions and velocities to make the active agents available near the point of injection without droplets impinging obstructions or surviving beyond the desired temperature window for NO_(x) reduction to a lower temperature area where ammonia would be generated.

FIG. 4 is the detail in cross section of an individual nozzle 160. Nozzles of this type are suitable for use in this invention, and discharge a two-phase mixture of gas and liquid at the characteristic sonic velocity of the mixture. For example, the speed of sound of a mixture of the two components is approximately 20 to 30 meters per second, based on a volumetric proportion of gas of between 30 and 80 percent. Since the outflow velocity of the mixture is equal to its speed of sound, i.e., sonic velocity, the abrupt pressure drop from the mixing chamber produces an intensive division of the liquid phase into small droplets.

The droplet diameter is effected essentially by this pressure drop and, as a result, is adjustable. It is an advantage of this invention that the surface active agent provides further adjustability in droplet size and enables narrowing the range of droplet sizes.

As shown in FIG. 4, the nozzle comprises a liquid conduit 161 surrounded at its end by an annular chamber 162, into which there opens a line 163 for the gas. The annular chamber 162 is connected to the interior of the conduit 161 by means of several transfer holes 164, so that the end region of the conduit 161 functions as a mixing chamber 165.

The ratio of gas flow to liquid flow should be adjusted such that, shortly before exit from the mixing chamber 165 through outlet 166, the ratio is appropriate for the chosen pressure drop to enable injection of the mixture at its sonic velocity.

Typically, a volumetric proportion of gas of between 30 and 80% is employed, i e , in this case, the flow cross section occupied by the gas amounts to from 30 to 80% of the total flow cross section

The pressure ahead of the mixing chamber will typically be in the range of between approximately 1.6 and 40 bar, depending on the desired droplet size and the phase exchange area dependent on this. Pressures on the order of magnitude of from about 2 to about 15, e.g. from about 3 to about 5, bar will be customary.

At the outlet 166, the mixture expands into the effluent passage 152 in FIG. 3, in which a lower pressure prevails. The pressure drop produces a fine atomization when the mixture is expanded. Droplet sizes will be determined based on the requirements of temperature, effluent flow rate, spacing of downstream obstruction, NO_(x) -reducing agent concentration, and desired effect. Typically, droplets will be formed with median diameters of from about 5 to about 100 microns. For many applications median diameters within the range of from 10 to 60 microns, e.g., less than about 50 microns, are effective. It is also preferred that the relative span of droplet sizes be less than 3, e.g., 1.5 to 2.5. The injection at sonic velocity with the water-dispersible polymer enables effective limitation of oversized droplets.

The atomizing device shown in FIG. 4 serves only to illustrate one suitable form of nozzle. Depending on design and process requirements, the atomizing jet can also be designed and constructed differently. In particular, it is possible to incorporate either convergent or divergent sections of pipe at the end of the mixing chamber 165. Commercial nozzles of this type are NFTC 4.0 and NFTL-20-00-170, both of which are available from Nalco Fuel Tech of Naperville, Ill. Also, other atomization techniques can be employed including nozzles which operate without a separate atomizing fluid.

All droplets should be fully evaporated and their gaseous form fully mixed before the effluent is cooled below the effective temperature window in the area of the heat exchange tubes. Thus, there are many instances where complete evaporation of all droplets must take place in under 1 second and frequently less than 500 milliseconds, e.g., on the order of 50 to 250 milliseconds. This is enabled by the present invention which disperses the liquid as droplets of uniform size.

The following examples are provided to further explain and illustrate the invention and some of its advantages, but are not to be taken as limiting in any regard. Unless otherwise indicated, all percentages are by weight.

EXAMPLE 1

Two aqueous urea test solutions were prepared and sprayed into a test chamber using a NFTL-20-00-170 nozzle and the liquid and air flow both being under pressures of 40 psi.

Both solutions contained 50% urea, but one also contained 50 ppm of an anionic surface active agent available from Dow as 3B2, and a 50 ppm of ionic surfactant sold by Rhone Poulenc as Igepal CO-730.

Droplet sizes were measured with an Aerometrics Phase Doppler Particle Analyzer. The results of this non-intrusive, helium-neon laser analysis are plotted in FIG. 1.

EXAMPLE 2

A series of urea solutions was prepared and sprayed using the nozzle identified above in Example 1, with both air and water pressures at 40 psi. All solutions contained 10% urea, and the use of surface active agent was varied from 0 to 100 ppm as shown in the following table. The surface active agent was a combination of an anionic agent sold by Dow as DowFax 3B2 and a nonionic surfactant sold by Rhone Poulenc as Igepal CO-730.

    ______________________________________                                         Surfactant Level (ppm)                                                                          Size Reduction (%)                                            ______________________________________                                          0                0                                                            10                6                                                            40               15                                                            100              25                                                            ______________________________________                                    

The above description is for the purpose of teaching the person of ordinary skill in the art how to practice the present invention, and it is not intended to detail all of those obvious modifications and variations of it which will become apparent to the skilled worker upon reading the description. It is intended, however, that all such obvious modifications and variations be included within the scope of the present invention which is defined by the following claims. The claims are meant to cover the claimed components and steps in any sequence which is effective to meet the objectives there intended, unless the context specifically indicates the contrary. 

We claim:
 1. A process for reducing the concentration of NO_(x) in a combustion effluent by selective noncatalytic reduction in the gas phase, comprising:diluting a concentration to prepare an aqueous solution of a NO_(x) -reducing composition comprising from 1 to 25% of an NH-containing composition which comprises a member selected from the group consisting of ammonia, urea, carbamates, ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, cyanurates, ammonium salts of organic acids, and mixtures thereof, the composition including a surface active agent in ratio of surface active agent in NH-containing composition of from 1:500 to 1:1250, the amount of surface active agent being effective to reduct average droplet size of said solution by at least 10% and the relative span of droplet sizes to less than 3; and dispersing said aqueous solution as droplets within the effulent at an effluent temperature of from 900° to 1300° C., wherein the average droplet size is within the range of from about 5 to 100 microns Sauter means diameter and the droplets are completely evaporated in under 1 second and prior to impingement on a surface within or defining a passage containing said combustion effluent to enable said gas phase reaction.
 2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the median droplet size is within the range of from about 10 to 60 microns.
 3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the surface active agent comprises an anionic, cationic or nonionic agent.
 4. A process according to claim 3 wherein the surface active agent comprises a member selected from the group consisting of C₁₁ -C₁₅ secondary alcohol ethoxylates, C₁₂ -C₁₅ linear primary alcohol ethoxylates, alkylated diphenyl oxide disulfonates and nonyl phenol ethoxylated ethanol.
 5. A process according to claim 1 wherein said surface active agent is a cationic or nonionic agent having an HLB of from about 10 to 20 and is employed in an amount of from about 50 to about 500 ppm.
 6. A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of dispersing the aqueous solution as droplets in the effluent comprises:preparing a two-phase pollutant-reducing mixture comprising gaseous and liquid components and introducing it at its characteristic sonic velocity into a passage containing a combustion effluent at a temperature effective for reduction of the pollutant.
 7. A process according to claim 1 wherein the solution is injected at a pressure of between 30 and 60 psi.
 8. A process according to claim 7 wherein a gaseous component is mixed with the solution in amounts effective to provide from 30 to 80 volume percent of the gaseous component.
 9. A process according to claim 8 wherein the gaseous component comprises air, steam, or a mixture thereof. 